Azalea plant named Sincerity

ABSTRACT

An azalea plant named Sincerity, particularly characterized by its dark rose pink flower color, large ruffled double hose-in-hose flower form, free branching, uniform and spreading plant habit, uniform flowering response in a year round controlled program, and excellent cooler tolerance and keeping quality.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Azalea, agreenhouse forcing type, hereinafter referred to as Sincerity.

Sincerity, identified as Code 857 during the selection process,originated from a planned cross hybridization between two selectedbreeding lines in a controlled breeding program in Fort Myers, Fla. bythe inventor Frank C. Moser.

The female, or seed parent of Sincerity is the commercial cultivar Ikon,a dark rose red semi-double hose-in-hose with a compact habit and glossydark green foliage, and disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,607. Themale, or pollen parent is a seedling known as Code 227, a proprietarybreeding line.

Sincerity was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by the inventor Frank C. Moser in October1988, in Fort Myers, Fla.

The first asexual reproduction of Sincerity was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in December1988, in Fort Myers, Fla., by technicians working under formulationsestablished and supervised by Frank C. Moser.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successivegenerations of plants derived from cuttings taken from the originalselection has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Sincerity are fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Sincerity has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length,without, however, any variance in the genotype.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsthat were grown in Fort Myers, Fla. in a controlled greenhouseenvironment and following a commercial schedule.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Sincerity, which in combination distinguishthis azalea as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. A dark rose pink flower color (57B) upon opening, fading to a lighterpink color (57D) as flowers age.

2. Semi-double to double flowers with a ruffled margin, with the flowersranging from 7.0 to 9.0 cm in diameter, with 8.0 cm the average size.

3. Compact, spreading and freely branching plant habit.

4. Uniform response in year round controlled flowering programs, forcingin 31 days on average.

5. Long lasting flowers, with flowers in a simulated home environmentlasting up to 25 days.

6. Medium green glossy evergreen foliage, leathery in appearance.

7. Very good foliage retention and no flower bud damage when cooled for6 weeks with no light at 38° F.

The accompanying color photograph shows in perspective view the uniquefeatures of the new cultivar, with colors being as true as possible withcolor illustrations of this type.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Sincerity is the variety Prize, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 3,795. Flower color and flower response are very much alike.

Sincerity differs from Prize in that Sincerity has ruffled petal marginsand larger flowers than Prize. The foliage of Prize appears to besmoother and darker green than that of Sincerity, and the shape of Prizefoliage is obovate compared to the foliage of Sincerity which is closerto elliptic in shape. Plants of Sincerity tend to be more spreading andless upright than those of Prize.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart. The color values were determined onFeb. 15, 1994. All readings were taken in an office under cool whilefluorescent lights, facing a west window between the hours of 10:00 a.m.and 2:00 p.m.

Classification:

Botanical.--Rhododendron hybrida, evergreen type.

Commercial.--Florist forcing post azalea.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Flower (general):

Size.--7.0 to 9.0 cm.

Borne.--Terminal cluster, usually 2 per bud, ranging from 1-3. Oftenmore than one bud per stem.

Form.--Semi-double to double hose-in-hose. Funnelform.

Blooming habit.--Once, profusely. Buds easily and uniformly in a yearround flowering program. The majority of terminal buds break colorwithin one week of the first. Flowering begins approximately 31 daysafter the start of forcing.

Fragrance.--none.

B. Corolla (petals):

Texture.--Soft.

Substance.--Heavy.

Shape.--Rounded. Margins undulate.

Color (fully open).--Generally 57B, dark rose pink, fading to 57D asflowers age. Upper surface: Edge: 57B. Center: 57B. Base: 49B. Lowersurface: 57C to 48A. Blotch: 60B.

C. Bud:

Size.--Medium.

Shape.--Conoidal.

Color.--58C.

Bud sheath.--Light green with light brown hairs.

D. Calyx:

Form.--Petaloid, irregular shape lacking symmetry, margin irregular andundulate.

Color.--Upper surface: 57B. Lower surface: 58C.

E. Peduncle:

Length.--0.7-1.5 cm.

Strength.--Strong.

Aspect.--Pubescent.

F. Reproductive organs:

Androecium (stamens).--Number: Usually 5 to 10. Some partiallytransformed into petals, some are fused with the style. Anthers: 58B.Filaments: Length: 0.5 to 3.0 cm. Color: 58C.

Gynoecium (pistil).--Stigma: 46A. Style: Length: 2.2-3.5 cm. Color: 45C.Ovary: Pubescent.

PLANT CHARACTERISTICS

A. Foliage:

Type.--Evergreen.

Arrangement.--Alternate.

Shape.--Elliptic, apex mucronate to mucronulate, base acute toattenuate.

Size.--Length: 2.0-7.5 cm. Width: 1.2-3.5 cm.

Margin.--Entire.

Color.--Immature: Upper suface: Between 144A and 146A. Mature: Uppersurface: 139A. Lower surface: 146B.

Texture.--Leathery.

Tomentum.--Present on upper surface. Insignificant.

B. Stems:

Color.--Immature: 145B. Mature: 165A. Tomentum: 164A.

C. Plant habit: Compact, spreading bush which achieves a uniform,symmetrical plant in a six-inch pot when pinched three times. Total croptime to the dormant budded stage is 40-42 weeks to produce a plantapproximately 30-38 cm in diameter and a total height of 26-34 cm.Internode lengths vary widely from 2 to 25 mm on the same stem.

D. Branching habit: Free branching, producing 3 to 4 breaks when avegetative cutting is pinched.

E. Rooting: Roots easily in 8 to 10 weeks with 75° F. soil temperature.

F. Budding ease: Plants produce flower buds easily and uniformly yearround with the use of commercially available plant growth regulators.Natural season response has not been ascertained.

G. Cooler tolerance: Plants placed in a cooler as a means of breakingdormancy perform very well. Sincerity is tolerant of six weeks in anunlighted cooler at 38° F. without foliage loss or bud damage.

H. Blooming: Plants reach the stage of 12 buds showing color in 31 dayson average after the cooling treatment. This varies from 15 to 42 daysdepending upon temperature and stage of flower bud development at thestart of forcing. Sincerity flowers uniformly across the plant.

I. Shelf-life: When plants are moved to an office or home environment atthe stage of eight open flowers, they maintain an attractive appearancefor 25 days on average. Flowers are somewhat persistent, onlyoccasionally dropping as flowers become old.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of azalea named Sincerity, asdescribed and illustrated.